Why Did The Junglers Start Raptors EVERY GAME of LEC GRAND FINALS?! - Play Like A Pro

Storyline (LEC Winter Finals focus)

• The video frames the LEC Winter Finals (4-game series) as a matchup between:
  • MAD Lions jungler “Yike” — an up-and-coming star who won Rookie of the Year and his first LEC title, aiming to defend it.
  • G2’s jungler “Yike” vs “A Lawyer” / “a MAD Lions jungler Lawyer” — the subtitles are messy, but the core comparison is consistent: two elite LEC junglers with contrasting playstyles.
• The series’ central “plot twist”:
  • Both junglers repeatedly start Raptors every game, because it enables both aggressive invade setups and high-tempo farming sequences.

Gameplay highlights & key ideas from the games

Why junglers start Raptors (core benefits discussed)

• Raptors/Wolves are camp-adjacent to important buffs and resets, enabling flexible early pathing.
• Red buff vs blue buff timing creates early fight pressure:
  • In early invades, junglers effectively have only their keystone plus buff damage for kill threat (items don’t matter much at level 1).
  • Red buff is emphasized as the key “starting item” because its damage-over-time + slow makes chase and follow-up kills more reliable.

How the “Raptor start” enables invades (Game 1 example)

• One jungler (the video’s “Lawyer” character) uses early timing to invade Yike’s jungle.
• The logic explained:
  • At level 1, the jungle item doesn’t meaningfully add stats in a fight, so fight power is mainly:
    • Keystone strength
    • Buff choice (with red buff being especially decisive)
• Outcome of the invade chain:
  • The defender (Yike) gets chunked, can’t secure objectives (e.g., crab), and is forced to reset and rotate away from the bottom side.
  • This enables the attacker’s team to secure key kills, including a bot-lane dive that costs waves and is presented as game-altering.

Solo queue strategy tip (generalized)

• For low-elo (below Emerald), the creator suggests an abusable pattern:
  • If you’re on Blue side: start red, do a quick 3-camp path, then invade when the enemy is still on blue.
• The intended benefit:
  • Steal/deny early tempo and leverage red buff power by arriving before the opponent has it.

Lane priority + vertical invades (Game 2 example)

• Both junglers start Raptors, but pathing differs:
  • One jungler’s Raptors setup lets bot lane start with priority (the video cites interactions like double ranged vs melee support).
• Timing goal:
  • After taking camps and arriving, the jungler can counter-jungle vertically (top/bot-side pressure).
  • The combination works because:
    • bot lane gets push/prio
    • the jungler has red buff available for stronger fights
• Key emphasis:
  • Starting Raptors isn’t just about the jungler—it can set up adjacent lane priority, making invades safer.

Farming approach & sequencing (Games 3–4 highlights)

Raptors sequence = earlier respawns = faster big gold spikes

• The video explains a sequencing mechanic:
  • Starting Raptors can shift respawn timing earlier in the next cycle compared to other starts.
• Resulting strategy:
  • You can complete a larger clear (e.g., 8 camps + scuttle) and still reset with substantially more gold.
• Gold thresholds mentioned:
  • ~900g after a smaller buy path (mostly components)
  • ~1200g with deeper sequencing (more completed-item power)

Voidgrubs interaction (why timing matters)

• The video links Raptors sequencing to Voidgrubs control:
  • By reaching certain timing windows (level 5/6 earlier), a jungler gains:
    • XP advantage
    • item power spike
    • stronger contest ability when Voidgrubs spawn

Game 3 outcome (farming junglers choosing Raptors)

• Both junglers aim for farming/stacking advantages:
  • One prioritizes Raptors to maximize full clear and get grubs.
  • The other ends up conceding Voidgrubs and taking dragon instead (treated as a worse trade for XP).
• Described consequence:
  • The player who secured Voidgrubs later receives level and item advantage, creating a compounding “stats advantage” swing.

Game 4 outcome (two styles collide)

• Setup:
  • One jungler plans for 10-camp sequencing and large farm timing.
  • The other plans three-camp + invade to disrupt tempo.
• Key tactical beats:
  • The invader gets early pressure using the red buff fighting edge and matchup readiness.
  • The sequencing player feels “flashback” pressure from a previous loss where bot pressure/neglect caused huge setbacks.
• Payoff:
  • The invade/roam pressure weakens the sequencing plan, costs tempo, triggers bot-lane snowball, and leads to a decisive series win for G2 (per the closing recap).

Key tips / strategy takeaways (condensed)

• Red buff timing is pivotal for level 1–early contest power (slow + DOT).
• Raptors start isn’t only a farm choice—it’s a timing tool that enables:
  • aggressive invades
  • bot-lane-priority-into-vertical-invade plays
  • respawn sequencing for bigger gold/item spikes
• In solo queue (especially below high tiers):
  • Consider a Blue-side red-start → 3-camp → invade pattern if the enemy will be on blue.
• Plan around Voidgrubs spawn and contest windows:
  • Sequencing that reaches earlier levels can outweigh raw camp count.

Gamers / sources featured

• Rogue (video creator/coach; former pro)
• Yike (G2 / LEC star jungler referenced)
• “Lawyer” (named in subtitles; second pro jungler referenced)
• G2 (team referenced; also “ruie” trophy/campaign mentioned)
• MAD Lions (team referenced)

No other named external sources or production outlets are clearly identified in the subtitles.